Slow Drag and Drop in Finder

Question

wineguy Author

Level 1

4 points

Slow Drag and Drop in Finder

Early 2015 Macbook

8GB Ram

MacOS 10.12.6 (latest Sierra)

203 GB Free HD (SSD)

Seemingly out of the blue, the Desktop Finder actions are taking an extraordinary amount of time. Opening a file modal window (command-o) from any app takes forever. Dragging and dropping on the desktop is almost impossible.

With a single file I have a long delay after grabbing and dragging before it “takes” (focus moves to the dragged file and a copy/move indicator appears)and I can hover over a target. Another long delay while the focus moves to the target, and then an even longer delay once the “moving” thermometer finally appears. It can take 120 seconds or more to drag and drop a single file. Multiple files slow down the process proportionately. Deleting is also untenable.

It is only opening the open file modal dialog (from an app, new Finder windows open fine) and the desktop that seem to be the issue (and deleting). From the Desktop duplicating files, creating a folder from selected files all happen at the normal speed.

I can drag and drop on external drives without an issue. The problem is consistent with all users.

If I start up with a (superduper) copy of the (currently problematic) system from an external USB drive, the problem persists.

What I have tried (not necessarily in order):

Ran DiskWarrior - fixed directory.
Ran Disk First Aid - no issues.
Wiped the drive, reinstalled the OS - migrated the users to the new system. Did not try testing the system before migration.
Trashed Finder .plist files and such.
Reset Nvram.
Disconnected all hubs and external drives and mouse.

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015), null

Posted on Jul 30, 2017 8:52 AM

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Answer 1

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Jul 30, 2017 11:59 AM in response to wineguy

Read this article : macOS Sierra: Mouse & Trackpad pane of Accessibility System Preferences

And after performing the trouble shooting steps by you , did you installed cleaners , Anti - virus , some unidentified apps that are not compatible with Mac , if that is so then uninstall them .

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Answer 2

wineguy Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 31, 2017 7:41 AM in response to tygb

Thank you for your reply.

It does not seem to be pointer related since:

The problem is not only dragging and dropping, but opening the Open File window from any application.
The drag and drop issue does not present when operating on an external drive.

The application conflict issue is where I have spent the most of my time. I have watched Activity Monitor while performing the problematic desktop drag and drop. There is no spike in any CPU or Memory use.

Your post did remind me that I hadn't tried Safe Mode, which I now have done (if this was OS9- I would have done that first). The problem is there in safe mode too, making it even less likely that it is an application conflict.

The next step if I don't otherwise solve the problem, will be to do a clean install without migrating my system and seeing if the issue persists. If so, it is likely hardware (perhaps an issue with the SSD).

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Answer 3

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Jul 31, 2017 8:22 AM in response to wineguy

Drag & drop is a function of LaunchServices. Try rebuilding the LaunchServices database.

Open Terminal and copy & paste this command at the prompt. It is a scroll so be sure to copy the entire line.

Press Return.

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain u -domain s -domain l -v

Then wait for the cursor to return to the prompt.

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Answer 4

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Jul 31, 2017 8:15 AM in response to wineguy

Firm decision helps , take back up of data and clean the hard drive and reinstall the OS .

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